DSU Sears Art Museum Gallery Hosts Artist Reception

[one_third padding="0 10px 0 0"] gray-conlon-yazzie [/one_third][two_third] Friday, October 9th, 2015 Featuring photography, ceramics and paintings, the exhibits currently on display at the Dixie State University Sears Art Museum Gallery have something for everyone and this month, the three talented artists behind the work will be featured at an artist reception. An artist reception honoring Sharon Gray, Matt Conlon and Johnson Yazzie will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, and the community is encouraged to attend this free event. The exhibits will be on display through Nov. 20. The DSU Sears Art Museum Gallery, located in the Dolores Dorè Eccles Fine Arts Center on the Dixie State University campus, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed during school holidays. Admission is free. The main gallery exhibit, "Shadowing Sharon: Shades of Gray," features Gray's photography set to music on large monitors. The installation is comprised of images of Gray's shadow captured in landscapes, scenes, and events. Gray is an Arizona transplant who now claims Lindon as home. In 2012, she retired from Brigham Young University, where she taught for 33 years in the Visual Art Department. She also served as the curator of education and associate director of the Springville Museum of Art for 12 years. [/two_third] Conlon's ceramics showing his evolving exploration of form, surface, and technique are the 3D element on display in the gallery. Conlon, whose work has been featured across the nation from Seattle to New York, creates wheel-thrown porcelain. From formulating clays and glazes to creating vessels and firing kilns, the many facets of the clay process satisfy his innate urge to explore the art form. "The concepts of my work revolve around the idea of functionality and daily use," the Dixie State alumnus said. "The designs and imagery are integrated into the forms and have become a hallmark for my pottery." Yazzie's paintings are featured in the Grand Foyer. Yazzie, whose oil painting was chosen by the Sears Family to be a part of Dixie State's permanent art collection, often includes American Indians, Indian faces, ceremonial gatherings and scenes of the everyday life on a reservation in his paintings. He is a member of the nonprofit group Art of the People, which promotes Native American art and develop artistic talent among area students. "To me, every piece of art has a story to tell," Yazzie said. "Substance, drama and power — not just the setting and color — determine the lasting impression that will be there for generations to experience and appreciate." To learn more about the Sears Art Museum Gallery and all of Dixie State University's Cultural Arts offerings, visit www.dixieculturalarts.com.